In the late 1960s, Kingston was a vibrant city fueled by the rhythms of ska and rocksteady. Against this backdrop, the four Hoo-Kim brothers – Joseph (Jo Jo), Ernest, Paulie and Kenneth – laid the foundation for what would become a reggae mecca: Channel One. History of Channel One Studios The Hoo-Kim (sometimes also spelled […]

Dennis Emmanuel Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on February 1, 1957. His father, Arthur Brown, was a prominent Jamaican actor, while his brother Basil was a popular radio personality when Dennis was a child. Surrounded by art and music, Dennis Brown started singing at school early. Byron Lee soon discovered him, booking ‘Little Dennis

In the vibrant world of reggae music, the legacies of iconic artists often extend beyond their earthly presence through posthumous releases that echo their profound musical contributions. Here are five reggae albums released after their singers’ untimely death.

In the realm of reggae, Barry Brown stands out as one of the few singers who gracefully navigated the transition from the late roots phase to the emerging dancehall style. Blessed with a distinctive high tenor, Brown’s voice was instantly recognizable, leaving a lasting impression every time it echoed through the airwaves. His lyrics blended

Renowned as a record producer and entrepreneur, Duke Reid was a crucial figure in the inception of the Jamaican music industry, an enigmatic character with a lasting impact on the music scene. According to some sources, Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid was born in the parish of Portland, Jamaica, in 1915, while others claim it was in

Culture is an iconic Jamaican reggae group, a vocal trio that helped shape the sound and style of Rastafarian roots reggae. As suggested by the name, Culture’s lyrics focused mainly on spiritual, social, and political themes. The group is best known for its legendary album “Two Sevens Clash” and its charismatic leader, singer and songwriter

John Holt, one of Jamaica’s superb vocalists and enduring songwriters, was born in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston in July 1947. His talent was evident as soon as he was 12 when he won his first singing contest. He won 28 titles over the next four years and then launched his recording career in

Kenneth George Boothe, known simply as Ken Boothe, has left an indelible mark on the music industry for over five decades. He has garnered local and global acclaim over artistic prowess, vocal talent, dancing skills and versatility, spanning genres from ska to reggae to R&B. Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of

Born David Sinclair in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica, Tapper Zukie (also known as Tappa Zukie) became a singer, producer, and dub master in London in the early ’70s. He was immersed in Kingston’s sound system scene as early as his pre-teen years, but by age 17, he was getting in trouble to the point where

Nkrumah Manley Thomas – a.k.a. Jah Thomas – was born in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up between the districts of Trench Town and Rose Town. He was named after Kwame Nkrumah, the African nationalist who secured Ghana’s independence from the British in 1957. After completing his education, Jah Thomas started working in a

Jah Shaka is considered the father of sound systems in the U.K. and hailed for his forward-thinking style with dub experimentalism incorporating electronic elements without losing any heaviness. Born in Jamaica around the 1950s, Jah Shaka moved to Southeast London with his parents at the age of eight. Jah Shaka’s real name is not known

Dub mixer and record producer Lloyd James – better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy – was born in 1947 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He moved to Kingston and took to music at an early age, also thanks to the fact that he lived in the Waterhouse district on the same street as the

Donat Roy Mittoo, a.k.a. Jackie Mittoo, was born on March 3, 1948, in Browns Town, Jamaica. Mittoo was taught to play the piano by his grandmother from age four and began performing in public before he was ten. As a teenager, Mittoo performed professionally in groups including the Vagabonds and the Vikings and hooked up

Born Cecil Campbell in a seaside shack in Jamaica on 9 October 1957, Ini Kamoze was the son of an authoritarian police superintendent dubbed “The Scorpion” and a factory worker mother. In a fit of anger over not hearing from his father, his mother placed the baby in a cardboard box and left him at

The Mighty Diamonds was a Jamaican vocal trio composed by founder and harmony singer Pat “Lloyd” Ferguson (the Judge), lead singer Donald Shaw (Tabby or the Prophet), and harmony singer Fitzroy Simpson (Bunny or the Jester). Raised in the poverty and despair of Kingston’s ghetto of Trenchtown, the group formed in 1969 and eventually became

Cornell Campbell was born in 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica. Some sources claim that his birth year was 1948. His voice was noticed immediately at the Church choir when he was a young boy. In an interview with Reggae Vibes, Cornell remembered people being fascinated, saying: “Bwoy, this child have an angelic voice, him sound like